Barmer: Union Ministers Rajnath Singh and Nitin Gadkari inaugurated an emergency landing strip at Satta-Gandhav stretch on National Highway (NH) 925 here Thursday for Indian Air Force (IAF) planes. This is the first of its kind emergency landing strip in India. A Hercules C-130J plane of the IAF, carrying the two ministers and Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Bipin Rawat, conducted a mock emergency landing on the runway.
The two ministers also witnessed multiple aircraft operations on the emergency landing facility (ELF) of NH-295. A Sukhoi-30MKI fighter jet conducted a mock emergency landing at the ELF. IAF chief RK Bhadauria was also present on the occasion. An-32 military transport aircraft and Mi-17v5 helicopter of the IAF also landed at the ELF.
In his speech, the Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said that a total of 20 emergency landing strips, similar to the one here, are being developed across India. “Many helipads are also being created with the help of the Union Roads Ministry. This is an important step to strengthen our security infrastructure,” Singh informed.
The NHAI has developed the three-km section of Satta-Gandhav stretch of NH-925 as an ELF for the IAF. “By creating a strip so near the international border, we have given a message that we will stand up for unity, diversity and sovereignty of our country at whatever the cost. Such creation of an emergency landing strip creates immense sense of confidence in the Indian psyche,” Singh said.
Apart from the emergency landing strip, three helipads (size 100×30 metres each) have been constructed in Kundanpura, Singhania and Bakhasar villages that falls in this stretch of the NH, according to the requirements of the IAF and the Indian Army.
The ELF was constructed in 19 months. Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Gadkari however, promised the IAF that in future such runaways will be delivered within 15 days instead of 1.5 years.
“Yesterday (Wednesday), when the honourable IAF chief came to me, he told me that it took 1.5 years to develop this landing strip (in Barmer),” Gadkari said. “Then I told him that we would develop good quality landing strips for you within 15 days instead of 1.5 years,” he added.
IANS